Das Williams | |
Office: | Member of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors from the 1st District |
Term Start: | January 2, 2017 |
Predecessor: | Salud Carbajal |
Successor: | Roy Lee (elect) |
State Assembly2: | California |
District2: | 37th |
Term Start2: | December 6, 2010 |
Term End2: | November 30, 2016 |
Predecessor2: | Pedro Nava |
Successor2: | Monique Limón |
Prior Term2: | 35th district (2010–2012) |
Office3: | Santa Barbara City Councilmember |
Term Start3: | December 4, 2002 |
Term End3: | December 6, 2010 |
Birth Name: | Dohassen Gault-Williams |
Birth Date: | 29 June 1974 |
Birth Place: | Soldotna, Alaska, U.S. |
Party: | Democratic |
Spouse: | Jonnie Erika Williams |
Children: | 2 |
Residence: | Carpinteria, California |
Alma Mater: | University of California, Santa Barbara |
Profession: | Community organizer |
Dohassen Gault-Williams (born June 29, 1974), better known as Das Williams, is an American politician who currently serves as County Supervisor on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. He represents the First District, which encompasses Carpinteria, most of Santa Barbara, and parts of the Los Padres National Forest. In 2024, Williams was defeated for re-election in a bid for his third term by Carpinteria City Councilman Roy Lee by a 49%-51% margin.[1]
He formerly served in the California State Assembly, representing the 37th district, encompassing parts of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Prior to being elected to the state assembly, he was a member of the Santa Barbara City Council. He is a Democrat.[2]
Das led the effort to pass a new gun control measure after the 2014 Isla Vista shootings, similar policies have since been adopted nationwide.[3] After the Thomas Fire and Montecito Debris flow Das was instrumental in passing ordinances that allowed homeowners to rebuild their lost property quickly.[4]
Before embarking in politics, Williams worked as a junior high school teacher and a legislative aide to then-assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson.
Williams holds a master's degree in Environmental Science & Management, with a focus on water pollution, planning processes, and land-use law from the University of California, Santa Barbara's Bren School of Environmental Science & Management in 2005.[5] As a UC grad, Williams has opposed fee increases for the UC system.[6]
See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014.